1975 Aphrodisiac Rock Anthem Gets Explosive Revival From Legendary Guitarist
Following the meteoric success of their self-titled debut album, supergroup Bad Company were under pressure to prove they weren't a dreaded one-hit wonder. The group, composed of musicians from Free, Mott the Hoople, and King Crimson, had also recently inked a deal with Led Zeppelin's record label, Swan Song, so to say expectations were sky-high would be an understatement.
Thanks to a little dynamic songwriting, some sharpened musicianship, and a whole lot of love, the band delivered a diamond with Straight Shooter. Released in the spring of 1975, the album widely regarded as Bad Company's cornerstone record, included hit singles "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" and "Shooting Star," but it was the massively popular "Feel Like Makin' Love" that knocked it outta the park.
So much so that dozens of covers followed. Standout homages include the soulful rendition by Millie Jackson, the karaoke take by Trey Parker, and the metal cover from Dangerous Toys. In 2025, legendary guitarist Slash teamed up with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators for their rendition, released as the lead single off their tribute album, Can't Get Enough: A Tributeto Bad Company. And as luck would have it, the crew just dropped a newly filmed lyric music video to go with. Check it out below.
A bluesy arena-rock ballad, the track was written by frontman Paul Rodgers and finished with the help of guitarist Mick Ralphs, with Ralphs telling American Songwriter, "The verses are very appealing to the ladies, probably more than the men, and then the riff comes in, which is all bloody macho. It's a big chorus, and it worked out really well."
With a song this great, you'd think the band was aching to get it out to the masses. But it was just the opposite. Rodgers, who penned the lyrics at a camp in California, actually sat on the song for years before pitching it to the band, telling Classic Rock, "I was about 19 and touring the U.S. with Free, so the song actually stayed on the back burner all the way until the start of Bad Company in 1973. And I did feel like making love at the time. I think I probably was in love - that happened a lot."
Peaking at No. 10 in the U.S. and No. 20 in the U.K., the track helped the album get certifed gold by the RIAA just four weeks after its release. Beyond the accolades, though, Rodgers believes the track carries yet another legacy: "I've heard it's responsible for a whole generation being conceived, although that could be an exaggeration."
Related: 1987 Bittersweet Synth-Pop Anthem That Broke Up the Band Is Making the Rounds Again
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 1:38 PM.